Operations

BY Patrick C. Miller A research team at Ford Motor Co. has come up with a potential low-cost solution to identify and track drones. As with registering and licensing a car, they believe making a drone identifiable to anyone could make operators more accountable. READ MORE

BY Patrick C. MillerBoeing's largest autonomous systems program outside the U.S. will take place in the state of Queensland, Australia. The company signed a three-year agreement with the government of Queensland to develop a new generation of air and sea vehicles. READ MORE

BY Stony Brook University For the past 40 years, the total number of Adélie Penguins, one of the most common on the Antarctic peninsula, has been steadily declining—or so biologists have thought. READ MORE

BY Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration last week announced plans to expand testing of an automated system to speed up approvals for drones to operate in airspace controlled by an air traffic facility. The test begins in April at 500 airports. READ MORE

BY Patrick C. MillerMiami-based Locust USA Inc.—a subsidiary of UAV Turbines—has signed a $19 million agreement to collaborate with the U.S. Army on the development of a small turboprop engine for unmanned aircraft. The engine will also have commercial applications. READ MORE

BY Patrick C. MillerBased on feedback from first responders, Kansas State Polytechnic at Salina will in April begin offering a specialized UAS training course for law enforcement personnel. The four-day course will provide training for specific purposes. READ MORE

BY Luke GeiverLockheed Martin will unveil VCSi, commercial software that enables operators to simultaneously control dozens of unmanned vehicles and conduct information, surveillance and reconnaissance missions at an event in Abu Dhabi this month. READ MORE

BY Luke GeiverA major shift in aviation could be on the horizon according to the Aerospace Industries Association. In a new report, AIA states that large unmanned aircraft could encounter explosive growth during the next two decades. READ MORE